# Accident 19980408006119A: Bell OH58A, Huron, CA, April 8, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 8, 1998, 23:00 local time - Place: Huron, CA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Operator: CUFG - Location: 36.2006° N, 120.0905° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2006&lon=-120.0905&mi=10 - Aircraft: N176SJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N176SJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Allison T63 series (registry code 03031, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t63-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL OH58A - Reported engine: ALLSN T63A720 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 125 in this make and model, 260 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA134) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980408006119A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) WHEN THE OH58 HELICOPTER TOOK OFF FROM THE LANDING PAD OF A NURSE TRUCK TO DO A RINSE OF HIS APPLICATION EQUIPMENT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FARMER'S FIELD, SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE HELICOPTER. THIS ACCIDENT IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. (.4) DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WARNING LIGHT HAD FLICKERED ON AND THEN OFF, WITH A CORRESPONDING SURGE IN THE ENGINE. APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET AGL, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND. A FUNCTIONAL FIELD CHECK OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CONDUCTED AND IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BREAKAWAY VALVE, WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED AIR TO ENTER THE SYSTEM. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL BOOST PUMP AND BREAKAWAY VALVE REVEALED THAT THE O-RINGS WERE DETERIORATED. THE FIELD INSPECTION FURTHER REVEALED THAT THE INLET SHUTOFF VALVE ARM ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS BENT. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S OVERHAUL MANUAL, IF THE INLET SHUTOFF VALVE ARM IS BENT IT MAY PREVENT THE VALVE FROM OPENING AND RESTRICT THE FUEL FLOW. ACCORDING TO THE COMPONENT OVERHAUL MANUALS, THE O-RING SEALS IN BOTH THE FUEL BOOST PUMP AND THE FUEL BREAKAWAY VALVE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE INSPECTED DURING ROUTINE INSPECTIONS AND ARE REPLACED AS ON-CONDITION ITEMS. A HYDRO LEAKAGE TEST AND PERFORMANCE FLOW TEST CHECK WAS CONDUCTED ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WITH THE ORIGINAL O-RINGS. THE FUEL BOOST PUMP DID NOT PASS THE MANUFACTURER'S TESTS. THE O-RING SEALS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES, AND THE FUEL BOOST PUMP FUNCTIONED WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S LIMITS. THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT AND FUEL PUMP WERE TESTED AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. THE FUEL NOZZLE WAS ALSO TESTED AND FLOWED WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S LIMITS. MAINTENANCE RECORDS DISCLOSED THAT THE LAST TIME THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS WORKED ON WAS 5 YEARS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX98LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA134), Apr 9, 1998: Bell OH-58A (N176SJ), Huron, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to deteriorated O-ring seals in the fuel boost pump, which allowed air to enter the fuel lines. Factors in the accident were the inadequate manufacturer's inspection… ## Other reports on N176SJ (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20210518006859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210518006859A), May 18, 2021: Bell OH-58A (N176SJ), Ulysses, KS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The accident happened about 10 miles north of Ulysses KS when a power line strike occurred during helicopter agricultural spray operations. The accident was… From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.